Overview
Known For
Top whitetail hunting state in the country
Terrain
Varies from swampy lowlands, rolling hills, and heavily forested hills and mountains
Hunting Seasons
Season | Start Date | End Date | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Bear – Hunt with Dogs
Late October, check back for current season dates. Location: Wayne, Bell, Harlan, Letcher, Zone 2 West, Zone 2 East, and, Zone 3. Use of dogs permitted.
|
Oct 18, 2021 | Oct 31, 2021 |
|
Bear – Archery
Includes Crossbow. Location: Wayne, Harlan, Letcher, McCreary, Bell, Zone 2 West, Zone 2 East. Closed in Zone 3. Season will end in each zone when the quota is met. Late October, check back for current season dates
|
Oct 23, 2021 | Oct 29, 2021 |
|
Bear – Firearm
Mid-December, check back for current season dates. All open bear zones. Season will end in each zone when the quota is met. See regulations.
|
Dec 11, 2021 | Dec 17, 2021 |
|
Bear – Chase-Only 1
Location: Wayne, Bell, Harlan, Letcher, West Zone 2, East Zone 2, and Zone 3
|
Jun 1, 2022 | Aug 31, 2022 |
|
Bear – Chase-Only 2
Location: Wayne, Bell, Harlan, Letcher, Zone 2 West, Zone 2 East, and Zone 3.
|
Sep 9, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
|
Bobcat
Bag limit 5
|
Nov 19, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 |
|
Coyote
No limit
|
Jan 1, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
|
Deer – Archery
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Sep 3, 2022 | Jan 16, 2023 |
|
Deer – Youth/Senior Crossbow
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Sep 3, 2022 | Jan 16, 2023 |
|
Deer – Crossbow
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Sep 17, 2022 | Jan 16, 2023 |
|
Deer – Youth-Only Gun
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Oct 8, 2022 | Oct 9, 2022 |
|
Deer – Muzzleloader Late Season
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Oct 10, 2022 | Oct 18, 2022 |
|
Deer – Muzzleloader Early Season
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Oct 15, 2022 | Oct 16, 2022 |
|
Deer – Modern Gun
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Nov 12, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
|
Deer – Free Youth Weekend
Bag limits vary by zone. Check regulations for more details.
|
Dec 31, 2022 | Jan 1, 2023 |
|
Dove – 1st Portion
Season 1
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Oct 26, 2022 |
|
Dove – 2nd Portion
Season 2
|
Nov 24, 2022 | Dec 4, 2022 |
|
Dove – 3rd Portion
Season 3
|
Dec 24, 2022 | Jan 15, 2023 |
|
Duck – Wood Duck and Teal
Bag limit is 6; may include no more than 2 wood ducks
|
Sep 17, 2022 | Sep 21, 2022 |
|
Duck – Teal Only
Bag limit is 6
|
Sep 22, 2022 | Sep 25, 2022 |
|
Duck – Youth Waterfowl Early
Eastern Zone.
|
Nov 5, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
|
Duck – Early
Bag limit is 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks and 2 canvasback
|
Nov 24, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
|
Duck – Late
Bag limit is 6; may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 2 black ducks and 2 canvasback
|
Dec 7, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Duck – Youth Waterfowl Late
Western Zone.
|
Feb 4, 2023 | Feb 5, 2023 |
|
Elk – Archery/Crossbow Either Sex. 1
Elk Zone
|
Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 23, 2022 |
|
Elk – Firearm Bull Week 1
Elk Zone
|
Sep 24, 2022 | Sep 28, 2022 |
|
Elk – Firearm Bull Week 2
Elk Zone
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 5, 2022 |
|
Elk – Firearm Cow Week 1
Elk Zone.
|
Nov 26, 2022 | Nov 30, 2022 |
|
Elk – Archery/Crossbow Either Sex. 2
Elk Zone
|
Dec 3, 2022 | Dec 9, 2022 |
|
Elk – Firearm Cow Week 2
Elk Zone.
|
Dec 31, 2022 | Jan 4, 2023 |
|
Fox – Gray and Red
No limit
|
Nov 14, 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 |
|
Goose – Canada Goose
Bag limit 5 combined. All zones
|
Sep 16, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
|
Goose – Snow & Ross
Bag limit 20
|
Nov 24, 2022 | Feb 15, 2023 |
|
Goose – Canada/Cackling Goose, White-Fronted Goose & Brant
Bag limit 5 combined; 3 Canada geese, 2 white fronted geese and 1 brant.
|
Nov 24, 2022 | Feb 15, 2023 |
|
Goose – Conservation Order
Snow Goose. No limit
|
Feb 16, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 |
|
Wild Pig
No limit
|
Jan 1, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Youth Spring
Bag limit 2.
|
Apr 1, 2022 | Apr 2, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Spring
Bag limit 2.
|
Apr 15, 2022 | May 7, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Fall Archery
Bag limit: 4, either sex. May include additional restrictions.
|
Sep 3, 2022 | Jan 16, 2023 |
|
Turkey – Fall Crossbow 1
Bag limit: 4, either sex. May include additional restrictions.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 16, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Early Fall Shotgun
Bag limit: 2.
|
Oct 22, 2022 | Oct 28, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Fall Crossbow 2
Bag limit: 4, either sex. May include additional restrictions.
|
Nov 12, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Late Fall Shotgun
Bag limit: 2.
|
Dec 3, 2022 | Dec 9, 2022 |
Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Hunting licenses, permits and regulations can be purchased on the official web site of Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
Hunting GPS Maps
Kentucky Hunting Map Layers App Overview Increase success as you layer hunting zones, wildlife management areas, private property and more over aerial imagery, and topographic basemaps, for the most accurate map on mobile device and desktop. See invisible property lines and seek permission with detailed private and government property boundaries and ownership names. View trails, […]
Hunt Zones
Hunting Layers

KY Private Lands
Over 1,900,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Kentucky. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

KY Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 1,800,000 acres in Kentucky to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.

KY Possible Access
onX has mapped 73,000 acres of possible access lands in Kentucky including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

KY Hunt Zones
Kentucky Deer and Elk Hunting Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 2 Sublayers
- Deer Zones
- Elk Zones

KY Public Hunt Areas
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources shows Public Hunt Areas (Wildlife Management Areas) that are for public use. Some areas require a user permit.

KY Restricted Hunting Areas

KY Elk Regulated Tracts
KY Elk Regulated Tracts are publicly accessible lands. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt (onXmaps).


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